Ugly But Appealing Vehicles

[Slash]

I have. There's a yellow one here in Saugerties and a red one back where I use to live.


They're enormous but that just means there's more of them to love.


EDIT:
And my dad's F-350 quad cab with an 8' bed is sexy, too. So I don't see what point you were trying to make.

My point is, the car is monsterously large. Now, as a die hard Mustang fan, I do love that car. But what I was getting at is that I find it to be worst design, even over the Mustang II King Cobra or the Foxy Body (I love the Foxn Body's weight advantage however). A near flat fastback roof, and the overall design is just poor. If it looked like the previous years GT500 with this ones tailights stuck in a modified Maverick body, it would be a lot better, at least in my opinion.

Flatten the rear fastback and stick a '70 GT500 front end on this and this should have been the '71 Mustang. Stick a Mustang emblem on the grill with a hood scoop and go.


Like this.

Front:

[/IMG]


Side:

More slanted Maverick fastback

Rear:

^^^That right there with the front end I posted would make for a wayyyy more badass '71 Mustang.

 

[djinline]

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine Pininfarina Coupé

 

[Doog]

*Snippity*

If only the Mustang II had turned out like that.

 

[Slash]

If only the Mustang II had turned out like that.

Right?

I don't see the ugly? To slash fan.

The general body style is god-awful. All disportional etc. Go back like 5 pages, I posted what it normally looks like.

 

[masterrawad]

separated at birth?

 

[Cano]

More awesome has been posted in this thread since I last stated how much awesome had been posted in this thread. Therefore I have to chime in: WELCOME TO 1959!!!

1959 Olds, just take a look at all the stuff poking out here and there! Such an awesomely odd design.

1959 Lincoln!

1959 Edsel... or any Edsel for that matter.

Garishly awesome 1959 Dodge:

Coolest tailight treatment ever:

And yes, Valiant was an apt name:

 

[OHM_fusion]

^^I'm not seeing the ugly (but yeah, odd by today's standards), the Oldsmobile is particularly beautiful. Art on wheels. I especially like how in those days the windshield is curved at the corners and the a-pillar doesn't seem obstruct the view that much.

 

[analog]

That's not ugly, that thing is beautiful and perhaps the only steel-bodied (or aluminium?) Corvette ever build I think, which apparantly resulted in less squeaks than a regular plastic Corvette, GM simply needs to commission Pininfarina to design the next Corvette in my opinion to add some class (love Corvettes but they aren't particularly classy).
The rear end styling of the Rondine was later used on the Fiat 124 Spider by the way.

As for 'Italian Corvettes', personally I love the look of the Corvette-based Spada Codatronca even though many think it's ugly.
It was designed by Ercole Spada, famous for many classic Zagato designs and this car combines elements of those Zagato cars with elements of the '63 Stingray in a (at least to my eyes) succesful and modern way.
Wouldn't call it conventionally attractive though.

 

[GranTurismo916]

Ok, here I go.

Lexus LS

Honda Integra 2g

Opel Tigra 1g

Opel Ampera

 

[Jet Badger]

Tigra is a nice car. Many people consider it girly but it is very CRX like and really charming. Lotus tuned suspension is a plus aswell.

 

[Slash]

Mid '70s Ford Ranchero. A lot of people prefer the El Camino, but I like this one (not because it's a Ford) because it has better engine options overall, and more of them at that.


Lets compare.

1975 Ford Ranchero:

Power ratings are at the wheels, and they are smog engines so they are down on horsepower as compared to years before and after.


---------------------------HORSEPOWER-------------TORQUE
250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 ----------100---------------------184
302 cu in (4.9 L) V8----------150---------------------230
351 cu in (5.8 L) V8----------160---------------------300
400 cu in (6.6 L) V8----------173---------------------300
429 cu in (7.0 L) V8----------220---------------------385
460 cu in (7.5 L) V8----------245---------------------400


vs

1975 Chevrolet El Camino


---------------------------HORSEPOWER-------------TORQUE
250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 ----------99----------------------190
307 cu in (5.0 L) V8----------115---------------------205
350 cu in (5.7 L) V8----------130---------------------250
400 cu in (6.6 L) V8----------180---------------------295
454 cu in (7.4 L) V8----------190---------------------385


The Ranchero was definitely a better car with more power available, at least for that year.

 

[playnthru]

HP from the factory was not Wheel HP (it was NET).

I have driven a '75 Ranchero (it was a 400ci with a C6, I think?).. It was complete junk! Top 10 worst cars/ trucks?? EVER..

 

[Slash]

Net horsepower is wheel horsepower. Before that it was gross horsepower, which was rated at the flywheel with no accessories and open headers etc.

It's unfortunate you feel that way, a 400 with a C6 is a fantastic combination. I pulled a 351W out of 2 different ones and rode in one, was a smooth ride. Pretty quick too. Light on it's feet.

 

[Doog]

I've always found the final generation El Camino to be a nice looking car truck ute hybrid thing. Their low prices, endless practicality, and tried and true V8s just make them more appealing. Not to mention, it's a trucklet that you can actually hoon around in and push through corners without worrying about tipping over. I'd love to have one of these things.

 

[marluxiaXI11]

Net horsepower is wheel horsepower. Before that it was gross horsepower, which was rated at the flywheel with no accessories and open headers etc.

Both gross and net horsepower are measured at the flywheel.

 

[Slash]

Both gross and net horsepower are measured at the flywheel.

Just looked that up, and my mistake. I'll own up to it. From what I've read, the NET horsepower had accessories now (and other parts dumbed down from years past). I easily get confuses with that, thanks for clearing it up.

Considering most engines from both companies without said accessories made much more power (and smog related stuff), it's sad to see some of those ratings.

 

[niky]

Maybe we should have a discussion on what beauty is? I fail to see how anyone could call the 2nd gen Integra or the Lexus LS ugly. Both cars were designed to be as inoffensive as possible, and aren't any uglier thanthe common car. the Tigra and the Ampera, on the otherhand are quite stylish.

I mean, I can see a schnoz-faced Prelude on the ugly list, but an Integra that looks just like every other non-pop-up headlight equipped sports car of the time?

 

[playnthru]

Net horsepower is wheel horsepower. Before that it was gross horsepower, which was rated at the flywheel with no accessories and open headers etc.

It's unfortunate you feel that way, a 400 with a C6 is a fantastic combination. I pulled a 351W out of 2 different ones and rode in one, was a smooth ride. Pretty quick too. Light on it's feet.

That's incorrect.

Factory horsepower ratings have never been wheel HP ratings (even today they ARE NOT wheel ratings!). They Do Not use headers, and they do use FULL accessories. The SAE requires ALL officially posted HP/TQ numbers to be validated they same way (on a engine DYNO, with accessories, plus catalytic converters.) But not at the wheel!

Even our beloved Muscle Cars were were not rated @ the wheel.

I drove and worked on a '75 for over a year. It was a horrible car/truck. It either broke or rejected parts nearly daily . I'v owned at least 5 Fords, but that one was PILE .

My favorite Ford I ever owned was a 1991 Crown Victoria SVT.. That meant Police Package 👍.. SVT (Special Vehicle Team) builds the Police Cars. It had a 351w (instead of the standard Crown Vics 302).. I bought it at a county auction back in '95. I wish I had a picture. It would be great in this thread, it was ugly and appealing.

 

[Slash]

That's incorrect.

Factory horsepower ratings have never been wheel HP ratings (even today they ARE NOT wheel ratings!). They Do Not use headers, and they do use FULL accessories. The SAE requires ALL officially posted HP/TQ numbers to be validated they same way (on a engine DYNO, with accessories, plus catalytic converters.) But not at the wheel!

Even our beloved Muscle Cars were were not rated @ the wheel.

I drove and worked on a '75 for over a year. It was a horrible car/truck. It either broke or rejected parts nearly daily . I'v owned at least 5 Fords, but that one was PILE .

My favorite Ford I ever owned was a 1991 Crown Victoria SVT.. That meant Police Package 👍.. SVT (Special Vehicle Team) builds the Police Cars. It had a 351w (instead of the standard Crown Vics 302).. I bought it at a county auction back in '95. I wish I had a picture. It would be great in this thread, it was ugly and appealing.

Not because I'm Ford biased, but I've never had an issue with that year Ranchero to be dead honest. When the last 2 got restored after we pulled the engines they were fantastic to ride in.

 

[AMCNUT]

I know some people have panned the old Jaguar S-Types as being ugly, but they've really grown on me over the years:





Ditto for the Ferrari 550 - at the time lots of people called it a weak styling effort on Pininfarina's part and un-Ferrari-like or whatever, but it's always been the most beautiful car that Ferrari ever made for me:



Both these cars are beautiful as far as i'm concerned - but ugly is hard to pin down as far as subjectivity and expectations go...

 

[homeforsummer]

I've never found the 550 ugly, though I do recall some people declaring it that way on launch. It's just got better with age though for me. Far cleaner design than most modern Ferraris.

Maybe we should have a discussion on what beauty is? I fail to see how anyone could call the 2nd gen Integra or the Lexus LS ugly. Both cars were designed to be as inoffensive as possible, and aren't any uglier thanthe common car. the Tigra and the Ampera, on the otherhand are quite stylish.

I mean, I can see a schnoz-faced Prelude on the ugly list, but an Integra that looks just like every other non-pop-up headlight equipped sports car of the time?

Yup. Most posted here are little more than inoffensive. Multipla, Valiant, Gumpert are pretty ugly (and even the Multipla has grown on me...), but aside from those...

Now these on the other hand - can't believe it's not been mentioned yet. Truly designed by a bunch of people who'd never met.

 

[Jet Badger]

That thing is properly disgusting. What is it? And in what way is it appealing? I surely know I wouldn't like to be seen in one of those!

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

That is Pontiac Aztec, lost cousin of this:

 

[JAHHAJ]

That thing is properly disgusting. What is it? And in what way is it appealing? I surely know I wouldn't like to be seen in one of those!

It's a Pontiac Aztec.
EDIT: Tree'd

 

[AMCNUT]

That thing is a Pontiac Aztek. Yes, GM misspelt it on purpose. It best serves as a feelgood mechanism so people can say "well, at least I'm not THAT guy", as they point to one so other people will forget about their own lackluster vehicles...

It's definitely the black sheep of the Pontiac family...

EDIT: Also Tree'd.

 

[Crash]

Now these on the other hand - can't believe it's not been mentioned yet. Truly designed by a bunch of people who'd never met.

Thread is ugly but appealing vehicles. The Aztek is ugly, but not appealing.

 

[marluxiaXI11]

I honestly like the Aztek.

 

[homeforsummer]

Thread is ugly but appealing vehicles. The Aztek is ugly, but not appealing.

That's a good point. And probably the exact reason why nobody posted it so far.

However, it's a good example of true ugly. If someone can find something on that level of ugliness but with some appeal, then they'd be onto something...

 

[motortrend]

That is Pontiac Aztec, lost cousin of this:

reminded me of this

The facelift isn't half bad

 

[MatskiMonk]

I don't personally find it that "ugly".. it's got Mini's usual bug eyed front and the rear is challenging.. I quite like it actually,.. but most people seem to think it's pretty ugly. I still find it quite appealing though. It is by a long way the only Mini I would ever buy (except for a WRC inspired bonkers Countryman).